Spasmodic Dysphonia

Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a neurologic disease. It is a type of dystonia. There are 2 main types of SD which have similar characteristics but may sound very different. Adductor spasmodic dysphonia causes in appropriate spasms during voicing. This is the most common form of SD. Abductor spasmodic dysphonia causes the vocal folds to spring apart during certain spoken sounds. More information on spasmodic dysphonia can be found On the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association website.

SD is treated with targeted injections of botulinum toxin into the appropriate muscles in the larynx. Obviously, the use of Botox has become quite common in the treatment of wrinkles, headaches, and involuntary muscle spasms of all types. When used in the larynx it is very successful in controlling the interrupted and halting speech that characterizes spasmodic dysphonia. Surgery for spasmodic dysphonia is usually reserved for patients in whom botulinum toxin is not effective.